Carrier.



No. 629,289. Patented July I8, 1399.

.1. m. DODGE.

' CARRIER.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1898. a Sheets-Sheet m5 mam: PETERS co. PHOTOJLH'HO WASHWGTON n c m. "629,289. Patented my 13,1399.

J. M. DODGE.

CARRIER.

{Applicltiomfiled Apr. 11, 1898.)

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- Patented July l8, I899. .1. M. nonaz.

CARRIER.

(Application filed Apr 11, 1898.)

8 Shets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

' no, 529,289. Patented July 18, was.

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No. 529,289. Patented July 18, I899. J. m. noose;

CARRIER.

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No. 629,239. Patented lu'ly' l8, M9. 1

J. M. DODGE.

CARRIER. Application and Apr. 11; 1a9a N0 Modem I 8 sheets-Sheet 8.

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, j UmrEnSTArEs' PATENT @rr ictj.

JAMES M. DODGE, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

'JCARRlER.

srnclrrcn'rroiv forming art or Letters Patent naeeaese, dated July 18, 1899.

Application filed April ll, 1 898.

T0 at whom/ it may concern: v Beitknown that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain I Improvements in Carriers,- of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in traveling stairways or platforms for passengers or freight.

One object of my invention is to insure the safe discharge of passengers or freight from such carriers at. or near any predetermined point orpoints in their journeyas, for example, at the top or bottom of I a stairway or at the terminal point of a horizontal orinclined platformyand to this end my invention consists in means,substantially as hereinafter described, whereby a gradual lateral tilting of the carrier is automaticall y efiected at the desired point-or points of discharge.

A further object of the invention is to so construct a traveling carrier composed of sections that said carrier shall be adapted to descriheany desired curve or curves in its travel withoutobjectionable gaps or spaces between the sections.

V A still further object of the invention is to make a compact double traveling stairway. In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view, partially in diagram, of

my improved carrier in the form of a moving stairway. Fig. 2 is a plan view, andFig. 3 is a -ing only the sections and rails. Fig. 9 is a side view, of the moving stairway, the platforms being in section. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the guide-rails with the sections removed. Fig. 5 is a side viewiof Fig. i. Figs. 6 and 6 'are side views of portions of a Stairway with the guide-rails in section. Figs. 7 and 7? are enlarged sectional plan views of one end of the rails, showing the sections in dotted lines. Fig. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 8 8, Fig. 6, showsectional'view, on a smaller scale, on the same line as Fig.8, showing the platform and inclosing casing. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view 'on the line 10-10, Fig. 6; Fig. 11 isa planview of one of the sections. Fig. 12 is a sectional view of one of the sections. Fig. 13 is a view of one end of a section Fig. 14 is a view of the other end of thesection.

$erial No. 677341. (No model.)

I Figs. 15 and 16 are diagram views showing a straight platform, the sections being tilted to a vertical position at one point. Fig. 17 is a diagram view of a platform, showing the sections slightly tilted at a certain point. Fig. 18 is a diagram view showing one side of the sections depressed at a certain point, and Fig. 19 is a diagram view showing a modification.

. .While my invention is adapted for use in connection with various kindsof traveling platforms, it'is particularly applicable to the terminals of traveling stair-ways for the purpose of preventing accidents by compelling passengers to leave the moving stairway or platform or landing thereof at the proper time and place. At the same time, when used in connection with such a stairway, my invention supplies effective means for carrying the sections of the moving stairway around the terminal point-and into a parallel returnrun with economy of space and without dan ger to users of the structure from the existence of gaps or spaces between the sections in the carryingrun or from the possibility of being carried by the structure to a point of danger. I will thereforerfirst describe my invention in connection with a traveling stairent instance as shown in Figs.1l, 12, 13, and

14, though it will be understood that the form of the step-sections may be varied without departing from my invention.

B and D are endless guides on opposite sides of the stairway, these guides being in the present instance in the form of grooved rails, in which rest the blocks of the step-sections. a

It will be noticed on referring to the figures that the rails B and D in the present instance are endless, being looped at each end, so as to form return-guides for the sections, making an upwardtraveling stairway on one side and a downward-traveling stairway on the opposite side,-as clearly shown in Fig. 1. 'Each of these stairways has a fixed platform, at the top and bottom terminal points, so that passengers can get on or off While the stairway is in motion. I I

The rails 13 and D are so formed that the sections will be guided from, the horizontal ,to a Vertical position at the platforms, mak- I ing it obligatory on the part ofthe passenger toget off at the platform, and I so arrange the rail-sections Band D in respect to each other that they are parallel from the'pointsa;

to Figs. 4 and 5,,the rail Bfrom the point x to the point x at each end and at each side being slightly curved both verticallyand latorally, so that the edge a of each traveling section will always hear a fixed relation to the edge e of the platforms E and the edge ,e

I of the inclined portion of the stairway, while the rail D extendsabove theplane of the rail I I B and is curved outward, so that at the point 00 it is in position directly above the railB in the present instance. It is also twisted so as to accommodate the blocks of the step,-sec' tion, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8.

:From the point x on one side of the stair- It will be understood that the lines of the guideways may be modifiedaccording to the I design of the sections used and the position and number of the guide blocks or wheels, and while I have shown one form it will be understood that many modifications may be used without departing from the main feature of the invention, which is the guiding of the step-sections so that they will be tilted at the terminal points or platforms to automatically discharge the passenger or freight carried.

One method of guiding the step-sections is shown clearly in Figs. 0 to 10, inclusive, and one form of step-section is shown in Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive.

I preferably make the rail B, as shown in the drawings, partly in the form of a channel, with guiding portions at the top and bottom between the points 00 and 0c, and I discontinue the upper portion of the rail, as shown in Figs. 4 and (3 at the point as, so as to allow for the lateral tilting of the step-sections. I also preferably form a lip m on the inner side of the rail 13, so as to retain the block in the fixed position laterally.

The'rail D has a bearing-surface at top and bottom on the inclined portion from the point 00 to m; but the rail isgradually twisted from at to 00 so that the bearing-points are on a vertical plane at as and form lateral supports for the blocks in passing around each end of the stairway.

Adapted to bearings in one side of the stepsectionsA is a short shaft a,having a head (L to which is pivoted a block 0. The block is so pivoted to the head that the step-sections can turn from the horizontal position to the vertical position on a pivot, as shown in 8, while the block simply slides upon the railsection B. Mounted in bearings in the oppo-' site side of the step-sections A is a shaft a secured to which is a block 0, which'is adapted to the grooved rail Dand slides freely therein and is so proportioned that it will travel in'the' twisted and curved portion of the rail carrying the sections A from the horizontal to the vertical position, Fig. 8.

Itwill be noticed that while each of the blocks 0 c is pivoted longitudinally in respect to the step-sections the block 0 is also pivoted transversely, as above remarked. By pivoting the blocks on a longitudinal line in respeotto the step-sections the blocks will travel readily over the horizontal inclined, and curved portions of the rails, while the tread'of the step-sections will always remain ina horizontal plane. In many cases a sliding block at each side will be sufficient, as the pressure of the sections, one against the other'will be sufficient to keep the blocks steady.

I, how-' ever, mounton one side of the sections steadying-rolls c 0 and I form an extension 61 on the rail D between the points :0 and 00, as

shown in Figs. 4:, 7, and 10, so that a steady ing-roll on each step-'section'will travel on this extension and prevent the tipping of the sections due to the pressure of the adjoining I step as the sections'are pushed forward up I the incline, as it will be noticed on referring to'Fig. 6 that the upper edge of one section is only slightly above the pivotpoint of the block of an adjoining section.

The roll 0 rests upon an extension (I of the rail D on the upward run, and the roll 0 rests on the other extension d of the rail D on the returnrun.

In place of rolls 0 c slide-blocks may be used, and in some instances rolls may be-substituted for the slide-blocks c c. In place of the small rolls two slide-blocks maybe used at one or both sides of the step-sections, and the guide-rails may be modified to accommodate these blocks.

As shown in Fig. 12, I mount on the shafts a a rolls a with'which' engage the drivingwheels F; (Shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3.) There are two of these wheels in the present instance; but it will be understood, however, that one wheel may be used and that the wheels may be arranged at different points throughout the stairway to aid in driving and to carry the sections past different points to relieve the friction. The method of driving is similar to that described in the patent issued to me on February 8, 1898, No. 598,772, so that the sections are pushed from a point preferably at the bottom of the stairway and all gaps and spaces will be closed; but it will be understood that the sections may be enchained and pulled instead of pushed without departing from the main feature of the invention.

It will be noted that the only point at which the edges of the step-sections part is where they turn around the loop at each end of the stairway. This portion .1 preferably inclose either in the wall of a building, as shown in Fig. 2, or by a casing where the end of the stairway is exposed.

By forming the guides so that the corner a of the step-sections will always remain in the fixed position in regard to the edge e e of the fixed portion of the stairway I prevent unnecessary gaps or spaces at this edge,and'as this is the edge over which the passenger must step either onto or off the step-sections there is no danger whatever to the passenger. The other edge of the step-sections is protected by an inclosing casin g, as shown in Fig. 9, which is shaped to, conform to the curve that thestep-sections take, making a close joint at this point as well.

When my invention is adapted to straight platforms, a construction may be used, as shown. in the diagram views Figs. 15 and 16, in which the sections A are tilted by suitable guides to a position from the horizontal at 'y 'y to the vertical at y. In some instances they may be slightly tilted, as shown in Fig. 17, by elevating one of the guides so that the sections willassume such an angle as to cause the passenger to step oi, as the angle is such that he cannot retain his foothold, and in the case of freight it will slide off as the step is tilted to the angle of repose.

In.Fig.-18 I have shown a modification in which one guide is depresssed instead of raised, carrying out the same idea as illustrated in Fig. 17, this being especially applicable for freight,where the sections discharge into an inclined chute.

In Fig. 19 I have shown a modification in which the rail D is not curved toward the rail 13, but is simplycurved at each end, and the rail B is curved so as to assume a position under the rail D, and in this instance I have shown a conveyer formed of narrow sections which do not form steps on the inclined lines, but simply are inc-lined traveling platforms. It will be be understood that an endless'belt carrier may be substituted for the conveyer without departing from the main feature of the invention.

Referring again to the description and drawings of the traveling stairway, it will be seen that the step-sections A are mounted upon and preferably pushed along guide-rails in the direction indicated by the arrows,'Fig.

2, and owing to the described'deflectionof the rails the sections will be gradually tilted laterally whenthey have passed the point as in their journey until they have been brought from the horizontal into the vertical position. This gradual tilting of the steps will, cause the passengers to voluntarily leave them be-'.

impossible for him to longer retain foothold thereon.

The sections retain'their vertical position until they have passed around the terminal curve, and they then gradually assume the horizontal position, forming a, stairway moving downward, so that the sections assume such a position at the upper platform that'a passenger can readily mount the sections and be carried down to the lower platform, where the sections are again tilted; causing the passenger to leave before the steps assume a vertical position, and carried around the lower terminal to the receiving-platform of the upward-traveling division of the stairway.

It will be understood that the lateral tilting of the sections may be commenced before or after the sections reach thefixed platform, so as to either compel passengers to leave the stairway immediately upon reaching a landing or to carry them some distance alongthe platform. It will also be understood that so far as the purpose of insuring the safe discharge of passengers or freight is concerned it is not necessary that the sections shall be tilted beyond an angle sufficiently acute to make itimpracticable to longer remain upon them, while, if desired, on the other hand, the device may be arranged to tilt the sections beyond the vertical.

\Vhile it-is preferable to arrange the guides at each end of the step-sections as shown, it will be understood that they may be arranged under or above the sections, the guides being for the purpose of directing the sections as they are moved forward, and may be modified,

depending to a great extent upon the location of the stairway or moving platform and the peculiar design of the sections used.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a platform, a moving carrier, means for guiding said carrier in close proximity to the platform and for tilting the same sidewise when opposite the platform,

substantially as described.

2. The combination of a series of independent carrier-sections, mechanism for moving said sections, and means for laterally tilting the sections at a given point orpoints, substantially as described.

3. The combination of an endless series of independent carrier sections, and guides therefor adapted to tilt the sections as they pass a given point, substantiali y as described. 4. The combination of a series of moving sections, guides therefor, said guides being arranged so as to shift the sections from a horizontal to a vertical position, substantially as described. i i

5. The combination of a moving carrier, guides for the said carrier looped at one end, said guides being so arranged one in respect to the other that they-will'tilt the carrier'latorally as it approaches and leaves the loop, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a series of moving sections, and guides therefor looped at each end, one of said guides being raised above the level of the other at the loops so as to tilt the sections, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a traveling stairway, with two fixed platforms at each end, a traveling carrier arranged to pass the platforms, guides for the said carrier so that the carrier will assume a horizontal position at the carrying portion of the stairway from one platform to the other and will assume a vertical position as it passes around each end, the guides being so arranged that the carrier will be gradually curved from the horizontal to the vertical and from the vertical to the horizontal opposite the platforms, substantially as described.

8. The combination in a traveling stairway, of the inclined portion, platforms at top and bottom thereof, a traveling carrier and means for deflecting the carrier at thetop and bottom opposite the platforms, substantially as described.

9. The combination in atraveling stairway, of the inclined portion having a platform at the top and at the bottom thereof,with trav-' elin g sections, guides therefor, said guides being so arranged at the top and bottom that the sections will be tilted toward the platform beyond the angle of repose, substantially as described.

10. The combination in a traveling stairway, of step-sections, pivoted guide-blocks at each side of the step-sections, and rails at each side of the stairway on which the guide-blocks slide, the rails being arranged in respect to each other so that the sections will be tilted at a given point, substantially as described.

11. The combination of a series of step-sections, a pivoted block on one side, a pivoted shaft at the opposite side carrying a block pivoted at right angles to the pivot of the shaft, guide-rails for the two blocks, said rails being so arranged in respect to each other as to tilt the sections at a given point, one guideblock acting as the pivot on which the sections are tilted, substantially as described.

13. The combination in a stairway, of a series of step-sections, pivot-blocks thereon, guide-rails for the said blocks, means for laterally tilting the sections at a given point by elevating one end of the step-sections, and a projection on one end of the step-sections adapted to a rail on the inclined portion of the stairway, substantially as described.

14. The combination in a traveling stairway or platform, of fixed platforms-the edge of the traveling platform or stairway adjacent to the edge of the fixed platform remaining in a given position in respect thereto, with means for elevating the opposite edge of the moving platform or step-section,substan tiall y as described.

15. The combination in a stairway, of the platforms, step-sections, means'for moving the said sections, guides therefor, said guides being so arranged in respect to the platforms that the edge of each step-section will retain a fixed position in respect to the platform, with means for elevating the opposite end of the step-sections, substantially as described.

16. The combination in a stairway, of a series ofmoving sections, means ,for guiding said sections and for elevating one end of each section as it passes a given point without tipping it in any other direction until it assumes a vertical position, thereby preventing gaps or spaces being formed 011 the carrying-run of the stairway, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES M. DODGE.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, J 0s. H. KLEIN. 

